Red and Green Week

Everything seemed to be going red and green this week. I had three sets of Red Finches hatch at the RUC. There were four nests but unfortunately I saw a snake in one on Monday night and by the time I pulled it out (yes, you read that right) the finches were gone (I was sad but I guess snakes have to eat too).

But the others all fledged and are now healthy and chirping around the cane fields.

This cute little guy (below) opened his mouth when I was taking my shot. I wonder if he was yelling at me because I couldn’t save his cousins?

Here are their nests. The first is a ‘before it’s fitted out’ shot.

And the next one is ‘after the birds have flown the coop’ shot.

I bought the nests at a town & country shop close by for under $5 each. They’re pretty cute!

Now for some green

This little guy didn’t jump on me when I took his photo – so I was pretty grateful for that!

The Lichee trees are in full fruit and they’re very red and green!

The night of the election a spider jumped in my salad (I didn’t know if the spider or Trumps win gave me a bigger fright). I didn’t put the picture here because I thought it may freak you out too much – but I did tweet it if you’re brave enough to have a look. What a waste of a delicious salad! I had to have ice cream for dinner instead.

Oh Roy – I’ve been very lax in the book writing arena lately. I need a good kick! 😦
The spider was a beauty and very scary. Mozzies and flying ants can be a nightmare too. I’m allergic to flying ants and run when I see them. Several months ago one flew down my top when I was cooking dinner and I had to strip it off and put ice on my chest. Hubby tunred around from the TV and said “Dinner AND a show?” Haaaa 😀

You’re the first one to mention the snake, Nancy. I probably would have got a shot of it if I hadn’t acted so quickly to get the rotten thing out of the nest. It fell into the darkness and slithered away very quickly. I was too late to save them damn it….

When we lived in Maryland, we glanced at the underside of the wrap-around deck and noticed a big black snake coiled in a bird’s nest having an after breakfast nap. BFF shooed him away. The thought of walking under the deck and having a big black snack drop onto my shoulders shivers my timbers!

It’s VERY scary! I’ve got a special glove I wear (it’s actually a welders glove) that I put on if there is a snake in the house – but you still have to be quick and I’m certainly not getting any younger 😀

Oh look, there’s a spider – somewhere in the world, there must be a spider. I’ll have to eat ice cream for dessert. Oh darn.
Maybe there will also be a snake somewhere. Then I’ll have to live in the ice cream store. Oh darn.

All going very well, Jill. I’ve had a tough couple of months after stepping on one of the bones the dog was chewing and have gone through a series of doctors appointments and scans to see what is in the wound (tiny slivers of bone). Last week I was told I may have to see a foot surgeon if it’s not better within two weeks, but I think it’s actually getting better now! Phew xxxx

Love the finches and sorry that the snake got there, but you’re right, they must eat too! I like your spider photo on Twitter. Not sure why you opted not to eat your salad–it’s just extra protein in there! 😉

It was just a small tree snake – they’re not poisonous to us, but you wouldn’t want one to bite you because they can cause a nasty infection. I’ve got a special glove I wear, but I still have to be quick (my reflexes aren’t what they used to be!) 🙂

Imagine finding that spider in your mouth! Yikes! I think it was probably too big to miss on the plate, but who knows what would have happened if it was tiny – Ick!
The snake was a non-poisonous variety, just the type that loves devouring little birds and/or eggs. I would never go near a poisonous snake (I’m a very fast runner when it comes to those ones) 😀

In the midst of the red and green, I am BLUE over the loss of the finches. When I was 15 I got a red finch and a green finch in a cage. I had several finches after that, and they are such charming little birds. So sad. But not for the snake, I guess.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I hear a little chant- ‘Red and green should never be seen!’ My Mam was full of such sayings 🙂 Funny how they stick with you. But your little finches are beautiful and we can hardly ban them from the fields, can we? And I like froggy too. Nuff said!
Enjoy your wildlife weekend! 🙂

I made the mistake of clicking the link to twitter. Wow. Right on your fork, no less! Thank goodness you have such beautiful fruit and birds to make up for the snakes and spiders. I think the snake pulling off the nest story deserves further explanation.

The nest is in the window on the first floor. I walked past it and saw the snake hanging from the top of the window with it’s head in the nest so I grabbed my ‘snake glove’, gripped the snake and then flicked it – it fell to the ground below. All the birds were gone 😦 I went downstairs (armed with a machete just in case) and couldn’t find the snake or any baby birds. The snakes that climb up to the nests aren’t venomous, but they can still give a nasty bite so that’s why I have a couple of long leather gloves to deal with them in case of emergency. It’s not the first time this has happened. The sunbirds and finches often build nests in the windows or on the veranda, but often by the time I notice them it’s too late to move them because they have eggs. If I’m lucky enough to see them building before they lay I shoo them away and dismantle the nest (because they attract snakes). Soon we’ll have screens on the windows and I’ll feel a lot better about that. Phew! I hope that makes sense 😀

I looked at the spider pic. Did it literally just land on your plate? Where did it come from? I probably would have tossed the whole plate across the room. I don’t mind little spiders, but that one was bigger and hairy than I can take.

I can’t believe you pulled a snake out of a nest like that! And it’s a good thing you were paying attention and didn’t eat that spider. Thank you for getting me in the mood for Christmas with your red and green. I hope you and the creatures will have fun celebrating!

Hi – quick note – I don’t think my joke came across here – partly the typo – but also hard to express humor at times.
But I was thinking of the joke where the soul eater says, “Waiter, there’s a fly in my soup.” And the waiter says “He won’t eat much…”
And so when you said you had to have ice cream for dinner – I inferred the spider 🕷 ate the whole salad (my attempt At humor) instead of not eating cos it was spoiled ….

I read this a few days ago and never had chance to comment, but your photos stayed with me those days. BRILLIANT. I absolutely love those nests – and your little green frog is too cute for words. Yes, cute. What personality he must have! Hopefully his long tongue caught your spider once it crawled out of your salad. :-0

As a testimony to what a city slicker I am, at first I thought the birds “handcrafted” those nests themselves! That makes more sense that you purchased them.

Such a nice home for those little guys…we try not to do that here, since it’s torture for the cats. Years ago one of our neighbors had a bird feeder on their balcony and our cat leaped off our patio and plummeted four stories. She survived, but definitely lost one (if not two) of her lives! 😉

Oh dear! I’m so glad your cat survived Britt! 🙂 Yes – those little nests are certainly very cute. Apparently a retired gentleman makes them (he must have spent many years studying the way the birds did it) 😀

LOL…gimme ice-cream over salad any day of the week…although right now, only if the heating is on – it’s pretty cold here at the mo! Love the festiveness of the green/red combination…they really are perfect partners aren’t they. Those finches are utterly adorable! Thanks for sharing so much beauty and laughter as always! Love and hugs, Harula xxx

Nature is lovely, but nasty too (snakes eating babies…). Politics, on the other hand, is most often nasty but more rarely lovely! But every now and then we have surprises. Let’s hope for some good ones in the future!

Lovely post. Dianne. Red and green is so suitable for Christmas month. Love that cute little froggie. I still have the picture of that spider in my mind’s eye. 😯 Such gorgeous nests you found, but poor little baby finches. *sob* So happy that some survived, though. I’m sure the one in your photo is shouting abuse at the murdering snake. 😦

They are highly suitable colours for Christmas, Sylvia! I’ve been too busy with the RUC to post for a while so hopefully I can get back into the swing of things in the new year. I’m loving your holiday snaps 🙂

Dianne I love those birdy pics shame about the snake. I think we have one that eats all the poor ducks on the creek, they never seem to make it and if the foxes don’t get them the snakes do. But oh that eight legged monster! I would have died right there on the spot. Froggy is adorable I wish we had pretty green ones here, mostly little cute brown ones, still cute though.

Frogs of any colour are SO cute! They’re one of my favorites. We’ve got lovely brown frogs here that hubby calls Baramundi frogs – I asked him why they were called that and he said they’re used as bait for fishing (I wasn’t happy with that answer) 😉

It’s red and green around here for Christmas, but we’re having a bit of a fright because we still can’t believe we are about to have a reality-tv host for president.
The Red Man would have been horrified – as are the rest of us at Casa de Canterbury!

It’s red and green around here for Christmas, but we’re having a bit of a fright because we still can’t believe we are about to have a reality-tv host for president.
The Red Man would have been horrified – as are the rest of us at Casa de Canterbury!
Do you have any room left in the RUC?? 🙂

Oh I’ve been so busy trying to get the RUC finished and approved by the local council – just a few more things to do and (fingers crossed) it will be finished. Thanks so much for the virtual snacks! xxxx

Hi Dianne–wanted to let you know that I’m reviewing your book, Wolf Pear, on my blog (http://worddreams.wordpress.com) next Friday, February 10th.It should already be on Amazon and Goodreads. If you have a moment, please drop in to say hi!

Yes I’ve seen the review on Amazon and Goodreads – thank you so much Jacqui! I’ve been out of circulation because my husband has been in hospital. Things are starting to look up now and he should be home in the next few days and I’ll get back into my routine. Thanks so much for the review and for dropping by to say hi. I’ll certainly be coming over to your page to hi as well 🙂 xxx